Feeding mechanism.



H. J. DOUGLASS.

FEBDING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s1, 1910.

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H. J. DOUGLASS. .PEBDI'NG MECHHANISM. APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 31, 1910.

v Patented Apr. 9, 1912,.

Y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

anvar/Ikon HARRY J'. DOUGLASS, 0F BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON.

FEEDING MEGHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application led lTanuary 31, 1910. Serial No. 541,199.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. DoUGLAss, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the cit-y of Bellingham, in the county of Whatcom and State of Wash-` ington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, in' particular, to mechanism for -feeding blankssuccessively to forming machines, and the primary object thereof is the provision of simple and eiicient apparatus for effecting such actions with respect to sheet blanks for can-forming machines. Y

The invention resides in certain novel features in the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as set forth in the following description and defined in the ap, pended claims.

Inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout: Figure 1 is a plan of my improved mechanism in such form as now preferred by me. Fig. 2 is a side velevation thereof with portions of some of the'parts broken away, and Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation in partial section.

The invention comprises means for reciprocating blanks in a mass, means for diverting blanks successively from the mass, and Ameans for forwarding the blanks diverted. l

The forwarding means herein shown comprises rollers 1 and 2 connected by spur gears 10 and applied in conjunction with the re- ,ciprocator 4 and the diverting means 5, to

the frame, as 3, of the forming machine. The reciprocator as shown, comprises a rectangular frame or container 40, adapted to receive the blanks, as B, atwise, the same being hinged, as at 42, to a rear bottom section 43, slidably, mounted on guides 44l secured' to frame 3.

41 designates a bearing roller for the blanks conveniently mounted on hangers 45 having angular, extensions j provided with suitable slots receiving clamping bolts 46 seated in the side Walls of frame 40, whereby, when said bolts are loosened, the

hangers may be shifted to adjust the roller longitudinally of` the frame, as may be desired.

The means for divertin the blanks is conveniently inthe form of a pneumatic device comprising a vacuum cup 50 secured to a tubular extension or arm 51 of a rock shaft'52, which latter' is provided with a connecting passageway 52 extending to one end of the shaft for communication with an air pump or the like through the medium of a suitable connecting means not shown. Shaft 52 is mounted in fixed bearings 53 on the guides 44 and secured to a spring-retracted arm 54 having a wiper 55 which is engaged with a one-throw cam 56 secured l to the drive shaft 57 of the forming machine,

which shaft is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

For operating the reciprocator 4 I have shown a crank 48 journaled in' bracket ex.- tension 59 of the bearing 59 of shaft 57 and connectedwith said shaft, for relative rotation at a ratio of one to one and with the heel 56 ofscam 56 at a lag of substantially 180 degrees relatively to the pin of the crank, by link belt gearing, as 60. This 'crank` is connected by means of a rod 48 with a wrist'pin 47 secured to bottom section 43 of the reciprocator.

49 designates means for` adjusting the mass of blanks to relieve the diverted blank, the same as shown consisting of an inclined deflector extending into the path of the reciprocator and provided with a slotted stem 49 engaged by clamping bolts 49" seated in a spring-pressed yoke 24 which is hinged as at 24 to a similar yoke 25 secured to frame 3.

Roller 2 is journaled in yoke 24 while roller 1 is journaled in yoke 25 and connected'by means of gears 26 with a drive shaft 27 which is mounted in a bearing 25 of yoke 25 and connected by suitalle means, not shown, with shaft 57 for operation to drive the rollersl and 2 at suitable speed V'to forward the blanks advanced thereto clear In operation, frame 40 moves back and forth with its guided bottom section 43, under action of crankl 48, while cup moves toward and from the path of the frame responsively to movements of arm 54 under action of its spring and cam which operate conjoint-ly to apply the cup to draw down the forward portion of the lower blankl clear of the path of the frame, duringv its retractive'movement, and retain such portion in lowered 4position during forward movement thereof, which forward movement advances the'diverted blank over the cup to the .forwarding rollers 1 and 2 and moves the remainingblanksA upwardly. onA

deiector 49, which laction serves to overcome adhesion between the'tins.'

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, l

is: n

1. A feeding' mechanism comprising means for supporting blanks in -superimposed relation for reciprocatory movement,

means at the side of the path of said rst verter, means for forwarding the diverted blanks, and means arranged to engage the upper blanks and lift the same during movement of said container. v

3. A feeding mechanism comprising a re- -ciprocatory container for the blanks, means for operating said container, a diverter supported below said container for movement to and from the path thereof for -diverting the blanks successively from their normal path of travel,l means for operating said diverter, me'ans for forwarding the diverted blanks, and meansl arranged to engage the upper blanks and lift the saine during movement of said containelysaid last means lying adjacent one end of the path of said container and having an inclined upper guiding face.

4. A feeding mechanism comprising means for supporting blanks in superimposed relation for movement, means for operating the same, a forwarding means at one side of said first means consisting of a pair of rollers, vand means for engaging the blanks in said first means at one end portion for holding the same for movement between said rollers.

means, a vacuum gripping device supported for movement to and from said first .means for successively diverting the blanks thereon, means for operating said devlce to grip and divert the blanks, and means for operating t said -irst'means to convey the diverted blanks to said forwarding means.

6. A feeding mechanism comprising means -for supporting blanks in superimposed -relation for movement, said means comprising a slidably supported bottom section and an' upper section of. open form hinged thereto, means for operating said first means, a forwarding means at the under side of said first means, an engaging device supported beneath said Iirst means for movement to and from the blanks thereof, and means for operating said devicejfor engaging and diverting the blanks succes- Sively to said forwarding means. 7. In a feeding mechanism the combination with means for diverting and forwarding blanks, of a support, a' conveyer for a supply of blanks mounted on said support for movement to and from said diverting means, and an adjusting device arranged for operation during movement of said conveyer to adjust the mass of blanks and thereby relievethe blank diverted by said diverting means.

8. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with means for diverting and forwarding blanks, of a conveyer for a supply of blanks supported lfor reciprocatory movement to present the blanks for operation of said diverting and forwarding means, and

a device arranged in the path of said blanks to adjust the mass of blanks vfrom one diverted by said diverting means.

9. In feeding mechanism, a carrier supported for reciprocatory movement for conveying a supply of blanks, a diverter-supported for defiecting thel blanks on said carrier successively, means controlling said diverter to deflect blanks during one stroke of said carrier, and mechanism arranged to engage a deflected blank and hold the same Vagainst movement with said carrier.

10. In feeding mechanism, a carrier `supported for reciprocatory movement for conveying `a .supply of blanks, a holding4 mechanlsm adjacent one end of the path of said carrier, means for reciprocating said carrier,

fand a device arranged in the path of said blanks to divert the same successively during movement of said carrier for movement by the latter to said holdingmechanism.

1l. Infeeding mechanism, a carrier supported for reciprocatory movement vfor con- 1,o22,5s1 v v 8 veying a supply of blanks,/a/holding mech'-y anism adjacent one end of the path of said carrier, means for reciprocating said carrier to advance the deflected blanks to said holding means, a device arranged in the path of said blanks to divert the same successively to said holding mechanism during moveinent of said carrier, and a device arranged of January 1910.

Signed at Bellingham, Wash. this 18 day HARRY J. DOUGLASS.

Witnesses R. AMUNDsoN, ROY WEAVER. 

